SPC Ardmona director resigns

The managing director of the fruit processing company SPC Ardmona, Nigel Garrard, has resigned.

Mr Garrard took up the position in 2000 and will now take up an executive position with the global packaging company AMCOR.

Grower groups say Mr Garrard is a tough negotiator but had to deal with tough business conditions through the drought.

Mr Garrard says the relationship between the company and fruit growers is one of co-dependence.

"Over the last four or five years fruit prices that we pay growers have increased by over 35 per cent and we've, I think, done our best certainly more than many other organisations through some difficult climatic times," he said.